Herculaneum (hẽr'kū́-lā'nḗ-ŭm), a city of Italy, formerly situated at the base of Mt. Vesuvius, by the eruption of which it was seriously injured in 69 A. D. and totally buried in 73 A. D. It now lies from 40 to 100 feet below the surface. In 1706 some relics were found, but no systematic excavations were undertaken until 1738, when what was supposed to have been the theater was uncovered and many beautiful statues and pictures taken from it. Of late years excavations have been again undertaken, and many art treasures from the entombed city now repose in the National Museum at Naples. The Italian government is now pushing excavation with renewed vigor.